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If the rumours, and cryptic clues posted on social media are true, then The Black Crowes are planning on reconvening. Bit of a puzzler really, not just because of the bad blood between siblings Chris and Rich Robinson, more down to the fact that with The Magpie Salute, Rich Robinson is in the form of his life, and each release from them outdoes the previous.
2017’s live self-titled debut album hinted at what potentially could follow, one year later ‘High Water I’ arrived and the end result was one of the best albums of that year. Another year has passed, and now we have ‘High Water II’, mostly written during the same sessions as part one. Widespread touring activity has seen The Magpie Salute become a tighter outfit, and ‘High Water II’ is the sound of a band hitting their stride. All of which makes the idea of The Black Crowes potentially reforming, a genuine “eh?” moment.
So, same writing sessions, same albums? Well yes and no. ‘High Water II’ is still overflowing with the same rootsy rock ‘n’ roll as part one (‘Sooner Or Later’ is badass), but there are subtle little differences. The free-flowing funk on ‘Gimme Something’, the horns on ‘In Here’, the glam-bounce of ‘Turn It Around’, the heartache of ‘Lost Boy’ (complete with Alison Krauss on guest vocals), and the bodacious swagger on ‘Doesn’t Really Matter’ – all sizzling examples of a band really comfortable together. Vocalist John Hogg has several co-writes with Robinson, guitarist Marc Ford brought the aforementioned ‘Lost Boy’ to the table, a band in the true sense of the word.
The playing is, as you would expect, exemplary. The keyboard work from Matt Slocum is especially noteworthy, as it adds so many different textures to the feel of the album. Bassist Sven Pipien lays down some serious grooves (especially on ‘Gimme Something’) and forms a potent engine room team with drummer Joe Magistro. Robinson and Ford feed off each other like they did back in The Black Crowes, and you know that the pair will flesh these songs out when played live. One of the main attractions with The Magpie Salute being that they very rarely play the exact same set each night.
‘Heavy Water II’ is the Godfather II of albums. Some will say that it just nudges out the first, others will always go with the original, whatever way you look at it, both albums compliment each other perfectly. A staggering body of work from a band showing all pretenders to the throne, how it is done.
Available now on Provogue Records.
Review – Dave
